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National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Technology Transfer 1999 Program Solicitation

NASA Installation: Kennedy Space Center: (KSC)

In support of the strategic development of NASA’s Technology Plan, the Center of Excellence for Launch and Payload Processing Systems is continually advancing the state of the art in launch and payload processing hardware, software, and support activities. Development of innovative technologies needed to improve operational safety and reliability, reduce costs and shorten flight hardware processing turnaround times is critical to NASA’s continued excellence in launch and payload processing. NASA’s goals to achieve affordable access to space require greater efficiencies in ground operations for current and future space flight vehicles and payloads. The four primary goals of the Center of Excellence are to 1) assure that sound, safe, and efficient practices and processes are in place for privatized/commercialized launch site operations; 2) increase the use of KSC’s operations expertise to contribute to the design and development of new payloads and launch vehicles; 3) utilize KSC’s operations expertise in partnership with other entities (government, industry, academia) to develop new technologies for future space initiatives; and 4) continually enhance core capabilities (people, facilities, equipment, and systems) to meet agency objectives and customer needs for faster, better, and cheaper development and operations of space systems.

Core technology challenges to support this Center of Excellence for this Solicitation include:

• Propellant Acquisition, Storage, Distribution and Space Vehicle Propellant Loading Technologies: Producing and handling large propellant quantities, on the order of 1/3 to 1 kiloton per day use, to maintain the high flight rates (one or more per day) required for highly productive and affordable launch operations is a key spaceport technology challenge. Demonstrations in key areas are needed to identify promising concepts and technologies utilizing such capabilities as co-generation or polygeneration of propellant production technologies and consumables (e.g., LH2, LO2, LN2, power, water, etc.). Reclamation of high value propellants and gasses (GH2, GHe) used in the launch operations, and cryogen distribution/transport to the launch site can also provide high leverage if this critical technology challenge can be overcome. For efficient and effective use of spaceport resources, reclamation technologies need to address alternative functional use in addition to re-use and disposal. These key technology challenges have application to terrestrial spaceport architectures as well as enabling futuristic planetary in-situ consumable production, storage, and distribution (moon, Mars, etc.).
  
  
• Ground Launch Assist Systems & Technologies: Recent NASA studies into highly reusable space transportation and launch requirements for advanced in-space architectures (space solar power, for example), have suggested a cost advantage for ground launch assist methods. These concepts involve imparting an initial velocity (hundreds of feet per second) to the launch vehicle via ground-based spaceport technologies. Some recently examined concepts include, mag-lev rails, rocket-propelled sled devices, and pneumatic catapults. Coordinated research leading to proof-of-concept demonstrations is needed to overcome the technical challenges of ground launch assist concepts such that a greater research database is available to assess operational benefits and risks.
  
  
• Space-Based Range System: Tracking and telemetry data acquisition and distribution for space vehicle launch involves a geographically diverse set of assets which allow vehicle position determination from launch to orbit and return. The use of the assets requires advanced scheduling, can be very expensive and is only available in certain locations and for certain trajectories. Develop a proof-of-concept demonstration for key technologies that enable space based tracking and telemetry acquisition and distribution systems. These may include advanced global locating systems, laser/optical tracking and flight safety management, etc. Technologies should demonstrate accomplishment of space launch range functions more inexpensively with greater flexibility than current systems.

Regenerative Environmental Systems Technologies

Proposals are solicited for innovative and commercially viable technologies in environmental and ecological monitoring and management. Of particular emphasis are the development of systems and sensors to monitor ecological communities, biological organisms and environmental conditions remotely, over long periods of time, under field and controlled chamber conditions. Specific areas of emphasis are:

• Microbial Functionality Monitoring for Remediation and Bioregenerative Life Support: Alternative technologies for monitoring microbial populations in groundwater remediation systems and prototype bioregenerative life support subsystems under development at Kennedy Space Center are needed. Innovative application of existing technologies or emerging technologies are needed to allow for a better understanding of the functionality of microbial communities and risks associated with biological groundwater remediation and bioregenerative life support systems. Bioregenerative life support system technologies should identify growth of human and/or plant pathogens, and have the ability to assess the stability of hydroponic and bioreactor systems for long duration missions – lunar or Mars. Biological remediation systems should address natural attenuation and/or active bioremediation monitoring and augmentation as they would apply towards Florida groundwater site cleanup goals.
  
  
• Lighting Technologies for Bioregenerative Life Support Systems: New lighting technologies must be developed and existing technologies must be improved to meet the requirements of the bioregenerative life support systems for future space missions. The development of new, innovative light sources which have higher electrical conversion efficiencies and high photosynthetic spectral efficiencies are required. The application of existing technologies in lighting applied to crop production include: improved lamp design for better electrical conversion, improved spectral quality for photosynthesis (400-700nm) and photomorphogenesis (360-400nm and 700-750nm), improved laminaire design for more efficient delivery of the radiation to the crop canopy, reduced thermal output from the lamps, and luminaire designs and materials that reduce or remove the thermal radiation from the lamp/luminare. In addition, applications of solar energy through indirect delivery including: high efficiency collectors, transportation and delivery of the solar spectrum from 360 to 750nm with high efficiency, and removal of all wavelengths shorter than 360nm and greater than 750nm with alternative uses of the thermal energy. In addition to the high efficiency requirements, component and system mass must be minimized relative to existing technologies. Proposals addressing these issues are sought for developing NASA Bioregenerative Life Support Systems.
  
  
• DNAPL Location and Removal Technologies for Contaminated Groundwater: During NASA’s early space exploration activities, groundwater and soil contamination occurred. Mandated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, NASA is investigating sites where chemicals such as trichloroethylene and other halogenated hydrocarbons were released. Currently available technologies for locating subsurface DNAPLs (Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids) involve monitoring well placement or direct push technologies with analytical sampling and subsequent groundwater modeling. The focus of remediation technologies has historically been on plume treatment, which involves the dissolved fraction of the DNAPL. This approach to remediation addressed the symptom of the problem, the plume and not the source of the problem, DNAPL free product. Therefore, innovative and cost efficient source location and removal techniques are sought for DNAPLs. Innovative source location technologies should indicate mass of contaminant present and its exact location. Non-invasive removal techniques are preferred for locating DNAPL source under existing facilities. Innovative removal techniques should consider application under existing, occupied facilities.

Integrated Intelligent Test and Simulation Technologies

Integrated Intelligent Test and Simulation technological advancements, concept definition, and proof of concept demonstrations are being sought in three focused technology growth areas. These technology growth areas offer tremendous potential in establishing safer, more efficient, and more effective Launch and Payload Processing activities.

• Process/Industrial Engineering: Kennedy Space Center operations have many unique aspects that require development of innovative process or Industrial Engineering (IE) technologies. All major current and potential future human space flight programs (the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, X-vehicles, and Mars missions) have lengthy operational phases. Payload processing activities are also emphasizing repeatable processes and improved customer satisfaction. The strategic importance of IE technologies to NASA is rapidly increasing. Proposals are being sought to research and advance technologies in areas promising significant improvements or efficiencies in Process/Industrial Engineering methods, tools, and techniques. Proposals should address the generic challenges of “doing more with less” and delivering safer, better, faster, and cheaper products/services. Core process/industrial engineering technology challenges include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
  • Advanced operations process modeling, simulation, verification and validation technologies for cost- effective evaluation of the impacts of proposed changes to operational processes & procedures. Tools for rapidly assessing cost, schedule, and technical risks of proposed Shuttle hardware/software upgrades and process changes.
  • Automated, advanced statistical quality control techniques which can be applied to data generated by space vehicle health monitoring systems. Non-intrusive automated health monitoring and exception reporting of ground systems. Automated resource and process scheduling and acquisition in response to systems health monitoring exception reporting.
  • Intelligent scheduling and model-based reasoning systems to quickly adapt, verify and validate spacecraft maintenance plans by incorporating appropriate in-flight data sets. Technologies supporting integrated flight and ground processing management systems.
  • Tools for seamless integration of knowledge capture, intelligent computer-based training technologies and knowledge based systems for launch and Payload processing.
  • Advanced task/methods analysis and procedure design techniques for maximizing work place safety and efficiency.
  • Advanced decision analysis, human factors engineering, and operations research tools for optimizing utilization of scarce resources and minimizing the potential for human error during aircraft/reusable spacecraft (Shuttle and X-vehicle) maintenance activities and human missions to Mars.
  • Virtual modeling and immersive environment technologies for multi users and network applications.

Cryogenics

Kennedy Space Center utilizes large quantities of Cryogens in support of flight vehicle operations. These operations are complex, often hazardous yet essential and critical to KSC’s responsibility of safely launching Space Vehicles. Technology advances focused in cryogenic operations, servicing, supply, delivery and storage systems/components are sought that offer safer, more reliable and more efficient means of processing and handling cryogens. Research areas where advances in technology are of particular interest to KSC include:

• Leak-Proof Compliant Cryogenic Connector Development that offer mate/remate capabilities with up to 30 degrees of misalignment; allow for mate operations with the connectors prechilled to cryogenic temperatures; permit leak-free disconnect (for oxygen or toxic service); provide reliable, verifiable connections for remote operations. Connector sizes of interest: ½-inch to 6 inches. Service fluids (cryogenic) of interest: nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide.
  
  
• Cryogenic Insulation Systems for Propellant Transfer and Control Systems which: operate at a soft vacuum level; offer minimal maintenance while providing simple installation; provide minimal commodity loss upon vacuum breech.
  
  
• Cryogenic Propellant Densification Flight/Ground Systems Integration which: provides “real-world” end-to-end systems operations development; allows development of alternative densification methodologies appropriate for various applications; offers operational systems for extensive, long-term development and optimization of system hardware such as pumps, valves, and controls.
  
  
• Future Launch Vehicle Umbilical System Development and Testing that provides integrated alignment and connection methods; develops alternative latching technologies, including shape-memory alloy applications; allows for maximum preload with minimum application loading; includes alternative mechanisms for both T-0 and prelaunch umbilical release; allows for repeatable, reliable mate/demate/remate for remote, automated operations.
  
  
• Autonomous Launch Systems Operations which will develop new technologies/systems for automated propellant storage vessel replenishment that tie propellant level indications directly to supplier distribution system for transparent replenish operations. Replenish operations options include off-site, automated delivery systems or on-site production, storage, and distribution via long transfer lines from a centralized storage facility.

Instrumentation

Advanced instrumentation technology is necessary to provide significant improvements in control and monitoring, detection, inspection, nondestructive evaluation, and advanced sensor technologies in support of intelligent systems applications. Technology advancements in instrumentation miniaturization, ruggedizing, reliability, solid state applications, electro-optic sensors, optical and infrared technologies are continually being sought for employment within the launch systems of our Space Programs. Of special interest are those instrumentation technology advances that support autonomous and intelligent systems. Instrumentation technology advancement areas include, but are not limited to:

• Smart, ultra-high-reliability sensors with built in fault correction plus power and data management for long duration applications
  
  
• Self contained wireless monitoring capability.
  
  
• Transducers with built in health monitoring, fault tolerance and low maintenance and calibration requirements.
  
  
• Remote sensing of atmospheric electric fields along spacecraft ascent and re-entry trajectories from the surface to the tropopause.
  
  
• Advanced methods of performing in-situ inspection and testing of flight hardware.
  
  
• Remote detection and measurement of ice buildup on flight hardware.
  
  
• Intelligent systems to perform continuous vehicle and Payload health monitoring and automated servicing.

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